Daughter wants a new (smaller and lighter) rifle....

Cousinadkins beat me to it...that would have been my exact reccomendation. Get the wood stocked version as the synthetic stock is pretty "whippy". Plus with the wood stock, its simple to cut it down to a perfect l.o.p. for her. 7-08 is a great compromise of low recoil with good downrange performance!

Chris
 
We've liked the the Ruger Hawkeye Compact Rifles. Any of the .308 based cases will work. In the .308 the 130 grain Hammer will work well on the size game your speaking of, and keep recoil down. I bought the only 7.62X39 I've seen. Initial plan was convert to a Grendel, but the newer bullets like the 130 Hammer, in a bolt gun, that's shooting good has mad the decision tougher. Cor-Bon used to have 150 grain ammo listed at 2300 fps, so it's definitely more useable than some of the cheap ammo, or Zombie ammo would lead you to believe. Then don't over scope it, a 2-7 Leupold balances well on these.

Weatherby has a youth, and a ladies rifle that I haven't owned but like the looks of. The adjustable feature in the youth model appeals to me more.
 
I put a 6.5x47 together last year that would be good for her. Remington SA, #3 benchmark fluted, trigger tech, Swarovski 5-25x52BT. Finished at 8 lbs complete. Has a brake and with 130 Accubond recoil is a non issue.
 
For low cost, very accurate and also low weight. The Ruger American Predator in Creedmoor. Anything from 308, 7mm-08, 6.5 Creed, and even the 6 Creed. I bought one for my son in 6.5 Creed. It shoots a .5 with factory $29 box of ammo. The weight is around 8 lbs with scope. I got mine for $379.
 
libertyman777 said:
Background. My grown daughter is an avid hunter (for someone who works, is a full time student, etc.). So I guess you can say, she goes hunting when she can. She has taken a whitetail buck a few years back with her rifle, shot under one a couple of years back with her brother's rifle. Wants to kill a hog, you get the picture.

I bought her a Savage Hog Hunter in .308 about 5 years ago or so. She is shooting full power ammo (my reloads) and recoil is not an issue but the Savage has a pretty thick barrel and some heft to it which mitigates the recoil somewhat. But she commented on this past weekend's hunt that she would like a lighter rifle. I just weighed the Savage and with scope (Bushnell 1-5x32), Ken Farrall 1" rings, Griffin can (the SS baffle and Aluminum can), sling, cheek pad and 5 rounds of .308 weighs in a shade over 10lbs. I'm guessing stripped it's an 8lb rifle.

She doesn't care for the AR platform, she likes bolt guns. Finding a lighter rifle is not a problem but finding one with enough punch without a substantial increase in recoil.

I've shot some kid sized, lightweight .243 rifles that had a pretty good kick. And the single shot rifles are out. Even though I've taken a pretty good sized buck with an AR in 5.56, I think she needs more than that.

So, I'm thinking about one of the rifles chambered in 7.62x39. Most of our shots are limited to 70-80 yards at most. But a 150-200 yard shot could come up occasionally. Her first dear was a 120 yards. We live in the southeast and there's not many opportunities for long range shots.

I've looked at the Ruger Ranch, the Howa, the Zastava and the CZ. Only the Ruger and Howa are threaded.

But then I saw that they all are also chambered in a 6.5 Grendel.

And there's the option to rebarrel the Savage but I'm not leaning in that direction because when I buy her a new rifle, Pops gets the Savage.

So what do you guys think? Thanks.
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A .260 Rem or 6.5cm is perfect caliber wise and there are lots of good rifles on the market. AR's are heavy but looking at bolt guns the Ruger American and Kimber's are very nice. I personally like the Winchester Model 70 more than anything that's ever been produced and they can be found in .260 and 6.5cm now I think.

A Model 70 featherweight in either of those calibers or even .264wm could be ideal for her as well.

SAKO also makes some very nice lightweight rifles, you'd just have to look at the available calibers and see what you can find.

One other, the Remington 7 in .260 or 6.5CM might be a great choice if you can find one.

Lastly the 700CDL in one of the 6.5's can be a great choice I have one in .264wm that's great but I may have to just let it go so I can build a custom Model 70 in the same caliber since I'm a Winchester nutt and I think any collector should consider owning proprietary calibers in rifles made by the same company that developed them when I can.
 
Capt RB said:
Whatever you purchase make sure it has a threaded muzzle for a brake. I like the beast self timing brake and I have shot a few others that make the claims. I'd still recommend the beast. The savage lady hunter/lightweight in walnut if you can find one is a nice pkg. It looks good and has a barrel nut too. The accustock/accufit works but is still just a cheap stock that doesn't have the feel or looks. Not threaded
TC has a threaded barrel on there economy lines. They tend to shoot very well. chessy tupperware stock
700 sps threaded barrels are 20". All the shorter barrels put the blast closer to the shooter and a brake will exaggerate that aspect. Lots of aftermarket but might be too heavy at 7-7 1/4# to start.
Ruger has a bunch of threaded barrel options that are sub 7# bare rifle
If she is really into hunting maybe something nicer Like a Montana Kimber or Cooper.
Plenty of options with pretty wood to utilitarian glass/kevlar handles. Prices from ultra budget to damm nice garage your shooting lol. I financed a garage completely when I got out of sporting clays as an example.
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The SPS is a cheap choice to buy new just to build off off but with all the QC problems they've had with the SPS up and down the line I could not in good conscience suggest or recommend them for someone looking to buy a new rifle.
 
My wife bought me a ruger compact several years ago chambered In 257 Roberts . Super light and extremely handle little piece. Hand loaded noslers have done great for me to 150 yards. Several young hunters have commented on how well it handles after using it, and recoil is the last thing to worry about. Just a thought
 
If you can find one, you might want to try one of the Savage Lady Hunter models. Women are built differently than men and the stocks on those are built with women in mind. Lighter weight means stock design is even more important for recoil management. Women tend to need a shorter length of pull and a higher cheekpiece for proper fit. If you can find a light enough adjustable stock with a short enough length of pull that may be the best route.
https://www.savagearms.com/firearms/centerfire/hunter-series/11-lady-hunter
 
My wife loves her Lady Savage. 7-08 with 145 gr LRX. Got her elk this year, 1 shot, DRT. Get any one of the Leu scopes with a 1" tube and the Boone & Crockett reticle. Total wt 8#m and you're accurate out to 400 yds.
 
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